Permitted development change of use from office to residential

Developers looking to convert offices into homes will welcome the government’s announcement of the introduction of a permanent permitted development right for change of use from class B1(a) (offices) to class C3 (dwellinghouses) from May 2016.

This will replace the existing temporary right, which applies from 30 May 2013 to 30 May 2016. Under the temporary right, almost 4,000 office to residential conversions were given the go ahead from April 2014 to June 2015.